The Supreme Court has ordered authorities to produce Rabindra Mishra, senior vice-chairman of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), before the court.
Responding to a habeas corpus petition filed by Mishra’s wife a bench of Justice Sunil Kumar Pokharel on Wednesday issued the order to present Mishra before the court.
Mishra's wife Sarika Karki had filed the petition on Tuesday, claiming that the police have been unlawfully detaining him.
The Ministry of Home Affairs was named as the defendant in the petition.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court also issued a show-cause order to the defendant, directing it to furnish the reason for Mishra's arrest.
Mishra, also the member secretary of the “Joint People's Movement Committee” led by Nawaraj Subedi, was arrested on March 28. He has been in police custody since then.
The Kathmandu District Court on Tuesday granted police permission to keep him and 24 others in custody for five more days.
Mishra’s wife claims that he has not been released on personal guarantee even though the police have completed investigating him and recording his statement.
On March 28, royalists held a protest led by Durga Prasai, who was designated “People’s Commander” by the Subedi-led committee, in Tinkune of Kathmandu.
The protest turned violent, resulting in the deaths of two people, and arson attacks on private homes, government vehicles, party offices, and a herb processing center.
Both the RPP and the Subedi-led committee had expressed their support for the protest organized by Prasai.
Police arrested Mishra on charges of involvement in the Tinkune incident and are investigating him with the court's permission.
RPP General Secretary Dhawal Shumsher Rana, also a member of the movement mobilization committee under the Subedi-led committee, was arrested along with Mishra.
While Rana was released on personal guarantee for medical treatment, the police have continued their investigation against Mishra on charges of offenses against the state, organized crime, and criminal mischief.
The RPP has been organizing various programs demanding Mishra's release.
